Australia: New commemorative coins mark 75th anniversary of Australian Signals Directorate Intelligence Unit

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The Royal Australian Mint commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) with the release of new 50-cent coins. The ASD is entrusted with protecting Australia from global threats by revealing foreign secrets and protecting its own. Having emerged with the task of harnessing and mastering technology to reveal foreign secrets and protect Australia’s own, The ASD had its beginnings during World War II and was known as the Defence Signals Bureau.

Designed by artist Adam Ball, his reverse side design features a three-level coded message and two bonus hidden codes to discover and crack. The ASD’s official 75th-anniversary logo is featured on the left side, and to the right is a group of alpha-numeric code. *The obverse features the commonwealth effigy of HM Queen Elizabeth II designed by Jody Clark and also features design elements for the first level of the four coded messages. As part of the legend seen around the effigy is the year of issue 2022, and below the Queen’s likeness is the denomination of 50 CENTS.

Denom.	Metal	Weight	Diameter	Quality	Maximum Mintage
50 cents	Cupro-nickel	15.5 g	31.5 mm	Brilliant Unc.	50,000

Each Brilliant Uncirculated-quality coin is encapsulated in a colourful and informative blister-pak presentation card. For additional information, please click here.

*With the news of the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II on the 8th September, the Royal Australian Mint will advise about a new effigy bearing the likeness of HM King Charles III in due course and following consultation with Buckingham Palace. The remaining coins dated 2022 and issued until the end of the year will continue to include the effigy of the Late Queen.

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